A man knows his companion in a long journey and a small inn.-Spanish. A man must not spoil the pheasant's tail.-Ital. A fool always comes short of his reckoning. The half is better than the whole. A Greek proverb, recommending a person to take half rather than risk the expense and uncertainty of a lawsuit to obtain the whole. A merry companion on the road is as good as a nag. A man must plough with such oxen as he has. A mon is weel o wae as he thinks himself sae.- -Scotch. A man is a lion in his ain cause.-Scotch. We had some proof of this in the conduct of the Reformers, who in the late years defended their ain cause.' There is indeed nothing like a man having a " stake in the hedge." Give a good servant a share in the firm, and he is zealous for his employer; or a citizen his political rights, and he fights valiantly for the commonwealth. There could be no patriotism among the vassals of the feudal system; they had neither property nor justice; it was nothing to them who were the rulers of the earth, and they might exclaim, in the words of the Spanish proverb, "Where can the ox go that he must not plough!" Ask a kite for a feather, and she'll say she has but just enough to fly with. An ill plea should be weel pled.-Scotch. A man may buy gold too dear. An old naught will never be aught. An old knave is no babe. An old man hath the almanack in his body.-Ital. An ass covered with gold is more respected than a horse with a pack-saddle.-Spanish. A new broom sweeps clean. An ill workman quarrels with his tools. A proud heart in a poor breast, he's meikle dolour to drain.-Scotch. Apothecaries would not give pills in sugar unless they were bitter. A pleasure is well paid for which is long expected.—Italian. A rolling stone gathers no moss. A runaway monk never praises his convent.-Italian. A salmon from the pool, a wand from the wood, and a deer from the hills, are thefts which no man was ever ashamed to own.- -Gaelic. The idea seems very ancient, that an exclusive right to game and other feræ naturæ does not rest on the same basis as other property. Mankind will not be easily convinced, that stealing a hare or a partridge is as bad as stealing a man's purse. While this continues the popular feeling, it is in vain to multiply acts for the preservation of game. Laws, to be efficacious, should be in some accordance with public opinion; if not, they only disturb the peace of society, excite ill blood and contention, and multiply crimes and offences instead of diminishing them. A stroke at every tree but without felling any.-Gaelic. As the man said to him on the tree top, Make no more haste when you come down than when you went up.' as you As good be out of the world as out of the fashion. Ask enough and you may lower the price list.-Spanish. According to that in Latin: Oportet iniquum petas ut æquum feras ; you must ask what is unjust to obtain what is just. We presume it is on this principle the Universal-Suffrage men frame their demands. They do not mean to have all they ask, but ask a great deal with the view of bating a little. A sorrowing bairn was never fat.-Scotch. A swine fatted hath eat its own bane. A whetstone can't itself cut, yet it makes tools cut. A wonder lasts but nine days, and then the puppy's eyes are open. A true friend should be like a privy, open in necessity.— Scotch. A wild goose never laid a tame egg.—Irish. A wilful man should be very wise.-Scotch. A word and a stone thrown away do not return.-Spanish. B. Before you make a friend, eat a peck of salt with him.Scotch. Beggars must not be choosers. Spanish. A quien dan no escoge. Bells call others to church but enter not in themselves. Better the ill known, than the gude unknown.-Scotch. Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry. Men love priority and precedence, had rather govern than be ruled, command than obey, though in an inferior rank and quality.' Julius Cæsar and John Wesley were agreed on this point: it is better to rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven,-to be the first man in a village than the second man in Rome. Better come at the latter end of a feast than the beginning of a fray. Better keep the de'el out than turn him out.-Scotch. It is easier to keep out a bad inmate than to get rid of him after he has once been admitted. It is also used in another sense, implying that it is better to resist our passions at first than after indulgence. Better late than never. Ital. E meglio tarde che mai. Better one's house too little one day, than too big all the year. That is, it is better our house should be too small for one great entertainment, than too large all the rest of the year. It is applied to those jolly souls, who, for the sake of one good out," abridge the comforts of the remaining twelve months. Better bend than break. "blow Better a little fire that warms, nor a meikle that burns.Scotch. Better late thrive, as never do well.-Scotch. Beware of vinegar made of sweet wine.-Italian. Provoke not the rage of a patient man. Bold and shameless men are masters of the world. Be a friend to yourself and others will.-Scotch. That is, chuse a calling adapted to your inclinations and natural abilities. Better to be alone than in bad company.-Gaelic. Between two stools the breech comes to the ground. Better pass a danger once than be always in fear.-Ital. Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.- -Spanish. Biting and scratching got the cat with kitten. Birds of a feather flock together. Blaw the wind never so fast it will lower at last.-Scotch. Building is a sweet impoverishing. Our forefathers seemed to consider building a very unprofitable speculation. They had many proverbs to the same effect: He who buys a house ready wrought, Has many a pin and nail for nought. The French too say, "A house ready made, and a wife to make." The times have altered, if one may judge from the present rage for building in the vicinity of London, and in the country. Buy at a market but sell at home.-Spanish. Beware of enemies reconciled, and meat twice boiled.Spanish. Beware of a silent dog and still water. C. Children dead, and friends afar, farewell. Child's pig but father's bacon. Alluding to the promises which parents sometimes make to their children, and which they fail to perform. Charity begins at home. Children and fools speak the truth. French.-Enfans et fous sont devins. Changing of words is lighting of hearts. Consider well, who you are, what you do, whence you come, and whither you go. Custom is the plague of wise men, and the idol of fools. The Spaniards say, "A good or bad custom, the rogue wishes it to exist." Which shows the influence the knavish part of society conceive established usage to have in their prosperity. - Customs, Though they be ne'er so ridiculous, Nay, let them be unmanly, yet are follow'd.-SHAKSP. Church work goes on slowly. Can't I be your friend, but I must be your fool too? Come unca'd, sit unserv'd.-Scotch. Consider not pleasures as they come, but go. Count not your chickens before they are hatched. Count again is na forbidden.-Scotch. Counsel is to be given by the wise, the remedy by the rich. Credit lost is like a Venice glass broken. Crosses are ladders leading to heaven. D. Daughters and dead fish are nae keeping ware.-Scotch. Day and night, sun and moon, air and light, every one must have, and none can buy. Deaf men go away with the injury. Dead men do not bite.-Scotch. Death is deaf and hears no denial. Deeds are males and words are but females. Ital. I fatti sono maschi, le parole femine. |